By Victoria Ries
There's never a shortage of interesting places to take the kids in
New York. Traveling between attractions is simple using the subway system to move around easily and keep out of city traffic. Kids get impatient when they are stuck in hot cars on sweltering days during New York's long, hot summer; help them stay cool and entertained. For your budding astronaut, a visit to a planetarium may pique his interest; most children love learning about planets and our solar system. For the nature buff, a visit to 4,000 animal specimens in one gigantic park will entertain and enthrall your youngster.
Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Park
Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Park was founded in 1899 and is the biggest animal park America. The park is 265 acres and houses 4,000 animals. The Children's Zoo offers a wealth of educational enrichment for your child including a petting zoo. Camel rides are seasonal, usually taking place during the warm summer months. Spend an entire day at the Bronx Zoo because you will need time to see everything. Avoid blisteringly hot days to visit this zoo as the animals retreat to the cool of their shelters to rest on hot days. View snow leopards, Siberian tigers and red pandas as well as gorillas, okapi and other rain forest dwellers.
Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Park
Fordham Rd. and Bronx River Pkwy.
the Bronx
New York City, New York
Tel: (718) 367-1010
Hayden Planetarium
Hayden Planetarium Astrophysics Visualization Archive offers four categories of movies demonstrating astrophysical phenomena. The movies are about the solar system,; the stars, the universe, and the galaxy. Hayden Planetarium first opened in 1935 and has many exhibits and sky shows on display to educate the general public. The planetarium puts on a rendering of the Big Bang--call for details and entrance fees.
Hayden Planetarium
79th Street
Central Park West
New York, New York
10024-5192
Tel: (212) 769-5100
American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The museum was founded in 1869 and houses an amazing 36 million specimens. The dinosaur exhibit, a children's favorite, takes up the entire fourth floor. Hands-on experiments and exhibits are on display in the Discovery Room for kids 5 years of age and up. Take the kids to the Hall of Human Origins to participate in workshops and discover the evolution of the human being. Special exhibitions include the Butterfly Conservatory, which houses 500 species of butterflies flying around freely in their splendor.
Central Park West (between 77th and 81st Streets)
200 Central Park W
New York City, New York
Tel: (212) 769-5100
About the Author:
Victoria Ries is a freelance writer whose work has been published in print magazines including Guideposts, BackHome and Mother Earth News. Ries enjoys working on diverse topics such as travel, animal rescue, health, how-to and home business.
